The Texas BBQ Forum

Hi Folks. I hope you're all well. Awesome to find this forum.
Thanks in advance for any thought or help you might have for me.

I found a Brinkmann Cimarron sitting curbside that is in great shape to clean up and use.
Other than the cleanup and some slight mods that others have come up with - the only problem with the unit
is that the firebox lid is sprung/warped. The previous owner said that he used two 50 lb dumbbells to keep it closed
(That seems like a lot, given how easily it closes to hand pressure).

It seems like there must a way to fix it, so 'i'm turning to you ...

Can a remote welder come and heat it so it can be re-bent?
Should I just have two pieces welded on to flip down and hold it?
Something else?

Thanks again.

Emory in Appalachia

Howdy and Welcome to the Forum - - I'm pretty sure that K.A.M. or some other Members will be helping you find the answers you need so just hang in there, OK ?

Thanks for the welcome. Glad to be here!.

Kind of hard to tell if it's sprung, or the hinges are just put on wrong. Where is it hitting?

Really need better pics of the whole cooker. Door open/closed. With the amount of visible rust it could simply be rust built up between the inner door seal and lid. The rust will keep the door from closing properly.

Thanks for your replies -
The firebox lid/door warped up in use (says the previous owner)
it seems to me that heating it and hammering it in place would work,
but I wonder about it warping back?

It's hitting in the lid track nicely, but it's raised like 3/4" so the bottom and sides have leaks.

Personally I have never seen a door spring that bad do to heat that did not relax and come back once cooled. Is the blasted cooker pic this cooker or another?

It looks like it's raised up all the way to the hinge. IMO, the hinges need to be re-done. In the overhead shot the gap at the top of the door looks awfully tight, that may have something to do with it not closing right.

hogaboomer wrote:It looks like it's raised up all the way to the hinge. IMO, the hinges need to be re-done. In the overhead shot the gap at the top of the door looks awfully tight, that may have something to do with it not closing right.

I noticed that as well which led me to think rust may be the issue. It is possible to take a grinder to that top edge while in place and allow the door to come down. I also use painters tape on the inner edge of the door to see where it is compressing the tape. This helps me determine how I will proceed with a door that is to tight.

Yep, open up the lid and take a grinder to the top edge. Grind about a 1/16th or so back and see what happens then. I think the door is pinched at the top.

Re weld the door hinges grind them off ...reset the door or use 2stout heavy duty hinges ..bolt them in ..use stainless steel bolts ...either way ...

He never did come back and tell us what he did.

hogaboomer wrote:He never did come back and tell us what he did.

Another flash in the pan brother.

Aggravating.